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mwerks.com Miscellaneous Features Let’s face it, most guys dread Valentine’s Day. It’s not that we don’t love our girlfriends or wives, we just don’t pull off the romantic thing quite as well as they would like. Even if we’re not all that creative, we can always count on the “short list” of surefire Valentine’s gifts: flowers, candy, a teddy bear, or diamonds will almost always be accepted graciously. But I suspect our significant others are more challenged by the task of picking the right gift to remind us how much they still love us.
BMWCCA members are a hands-on bunch, tackling everything from detailing to routine maintenance on their own and sharing their experiences with other members. Aside from this camaraderie, members will receive what is hands-down the finest club publication on the planet, the monthly Roundel magazine. The $40 membership fee is worth every penny, especially if you take advantage of member discounts from any of the numerous companies that support the club and its participants. For more information, check out www.bmwcca.org. For budgets around $100- Piloti Driving Shoes It’s been a little more than 5 years since I saw the first prototypes of a shoe design that was one-half Nomex-lined racing shoe and one-half athletic shoe. The Piloti driving shoe concept kicked off a host of imitators from established shoemakers hoping to cash in on the lifestyle shoe craze. Despite the numerous competitors that now grace the shelves, Piloti’s driving shoes remain my favorites. The combination of street-wear comfort with attention to the needs of genuine driving enthusiasts is what makes them perfect. The ball-shaped heel pad makes fancy footwork a breeze, and details like a reinforced toe pad on the right foot ensure that these shoes are more than just a fashion statement.
Of the half-dozen or more that I’ve owned, the grey and black Rallye ($110) remains my favorite. In part suede and part leather it’s not only comfortable, but also extremely flexible with a variety of wardrobe options, and subtle enough to wear to the office on Casual Friday. Or check out the all-new Spyder. This new low-cut model is available in 4 color combinations, and will only set you back $75. For more information, go to www.piloti.com. For budgets around $250- MINI Racing Leather Jacket There’s a fine line between tasteful and tacky when it comes to wearing clothes with a car logo on them. But when the brand of choice is MINI, and the clothing is so downright cool even without the logo, you will most certainly be pardoned for wearing your colors on your sleeves. MINI’s Motring Gear collection is full of fun fashion, but one particular piece stands out: the leather racing jacket. Even sitting on the hanger this jacket oozes attitude. You just know that if you wear it, your regular walk will turn to swagger. It’s cut lean and tight, like the MINI itself, and even includes racing stripes on the right chest. As for the MINI logo, it’s discreetly displayed on the back of the collar.
If you want one though, you had better get on it. The jacket is on sale at www.motoringgear.comfor $230, a full $85 off the original price. For budgets around $500- Valentine One radar detector What better occasion than Valentine’s Day to give the renowned Valentine One radar detector. For more than a dozen years, discerning drivers have valued the V1 for its ability to not only warn them of radar hazards, but also point them in the direction of the threat.
You won’t find a Valentine One at you local Best Buy or Circuit City though. You’ll have call Valentine directly at 1.800.331.3030, or buy online at valentine1.com. For budgets around $1000- Driving School No matter how good a driver someone thinks he is, there is always room for improvement. Nothing highlights that fact more than attending a performance driving school. Of the numerous driving schools spread throughout the country, most are run by former racecar drivers, like Bob Bondurant, Skip Barber, and Derek Daly. Courses typically range from basic defensive driving and safety techniques all the way up to open-wheel racecar instruction. Popular are the performance driving courses, which focus on vehicle dynamics and car control near the limits. These are especially helpful in preparing a driver for his first autocross or track day, but the skills taught here are also important on the street.
BMW enthusiasts may want to consider the Derek Daly Driving Academy, which features BMW Z3s as its vehicles of choice. Their one-day GT Performance Driving Course ($1000) introduces students to understeer, oversteer, heel-and-toe downshifting, threshold braking, trail braking and weight-transfer management, starting with a car-control clinic in the schools’ specially-prepared 3 Series Skid Car. Other courses are also available, depending on your budget and level of commitment. Either way, this will be one gift that lasts a lifetime. For more information about the academy visit them at www.derekdaly.com. Gift Certificates for any budget Since car guys can be difficult to buy for, the best gift can often be a gift certificate to his favorite place. You can’t go wrong with the gift of rubber, so get in touch with the Tire Rack for his wheel and tire habit. Perhaps he’s easy on the tires, but meticulous about the appearance. Let him indulge his detailing habit at Classic Motoring Accessories, where he can stock up on all the right stuff to keep his car looking perfect. And no BMW enthusiast would turn down a gift from BMP Design. From maintenance and repair parts to performance enhancements, the folks in Tyler, Texas, have almost anything a man and his Bimmer could ever possibly need.
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